Solar System Topics
Here Come the Perseids!
1999 — April 6, 2011
The 1999 Perseid meteor shower peaks on August 12th and 13th under the dark skies of a nearly new moon.
Fading embers hold clues to puzzle of gamma-ray bursts
1999 — April 6, 2011
Sometimes the big fireworks aren't the whole show. Watching the embers fade away can help you understand what was hidden by a blinding flash of light - or gamma rays. In a paper accepted for publication in Astrophysical Journal Letters, astrophysicists report that an afterglow can start during a gamma-ray burst, thus suggesting that more than one activity is causing what appears to be a chaotic explosion.
MeteorsDown Under
1999 — April 6, 2011
On May 6th debris from Halley's comet will strike Earth's atmosphere and put on a sky show for southern observers. The eta Aquarid meteor display is the first of two upcoming annual showers caused by the famous comet.
Leonids Sample Return Mission Update
1999 — April 6, 2011
Scientists will describe initial results from a program to catch meteoroids in flight at the NASA/Ames Leonids Workshop April 12-15, 1999.
Halley's comet returns in bits and pieces
1998 — April 6, 2011
Bits of Halley's comet make a reappearance Oct 21 and 22 during the the 1998 Orionids meteor shower. Debris particles from Halley will strike the Earth's atmosphere at 90,000 mph and cause as many as 20 shooting stars per hour.
Up, Up, and Away to the Leonids
1998 — April 6, 2011
Science Balloon Captures Eight Fireballs on Video from 100,000 Feet Up.
Bunches of Geminids
1998 — April 6, 2011
Last weekend observers around the globe were treated to one of the strongest Geminid meteor showers ever. Next year could be even better. This article includes a video clip of Geminid and Leonid Meteorsstreaking through the constellation Orion.
Tiniest of space bodies to get close examination: Space dust
1998 — April 6, 2011
the building blocks of stars and planets - is the center of attention in new NASA lab.
The Leonid Sample Return Mission
1998 — April 6, 2011
NASA Scientists hope to capture a Leonid meteoroid to look for the stuff of life in comet Tempel-Tuttle.
The Ghost of Fireballs Past
1998 — April 6, 2011
Amateur radio operators capture eerie-sounding radar echos from Geminid and Leonid meteors.